Sprinkler-system alarm valve



E. G. HARRIS.

1,425,254, at t d Aug- '8, 1922.

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SPRINKLER-SYSTEM A'LABI/I VALVE.

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Specification of Letters Fatent.

Patented Au 8, 1922.

Application filed May 24, 1920. Serial No. 383,897.

To all whom it may con-ream Be it known that I. EnNnsr-G. HARRIS, citizen ofthe Dominion of Canada, residing at North Vancou er, in the Province of British Columbia, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sprinkler-System Alarm Valves, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relatesto an alarm valve for a sprinkler system and is designed to aliord a full straightway passage for the water to the sprinkler pipes, and when there is a sufficient current of water to open the valve, it will unfailingly operate the alarm but will not give a false alarm when the valve is slightly opened and closed, as when jerked off its seat by water hammer.

T he invention is fully set fort-h in the following specification, reference being made to the drawings by which it is accompanied, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section on the line 1 1 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 2, plan. of the same.

In these drawings 2 represents the casing which contains the valve, which casing has a flange 3 for connection to the water service and one 4: for connection to the sprinkler system of the building.

Adjacent the water service connection 3 a bronze valve 6 seats downward on a bronze ring 5 inserted in the casing. This valve 6 has a lug 7 projecting from one side by which the valve pivoted loosely on a pin 8 mounted in the walls of the casino; 2. The end of the lug 7 adjacent the pivot bearing 8 is shaped somewhat as shown in Fig. 1, to form a projection 9 eccentric to the hearing of the pin and this projection 9 is adapted to engage the tail end of a short lever 10 pivotally mounted on a pin 11 in the walls of the casing parallel to the pin The other end of this lever 10 carries a hemispherical valve 12 adapted to normally seat on the edge of and close an aperture through a nipple 13 screwed into the casing 2.

The side of the casing 2 toward which the valve is mounted is open to afford access to the valve and its connection and is closable with a cover 14;. This cover has a projection 15 from its inner side, which forms a limiting stop for the valve 7. checking it when open in a position from which it will be sure to fall to its seat when a current of water ceases to flow through the valve.

Across between the seat of the valve 6 and that of the alarm valve 12 is a ridge 1'7 designed to prevent scale or dirt obtaining access to the seat of the valve 12 and to further protect it a gauze screen 16 is secured to the cover 14 and projects inward and downward therefrom to the ridge 17.

The outwardly projecting end of the nipple 13' is connected by a pipe to thewater motor of the alarm gong or to an intermediate retarding chamber, if such is considered necessary. 1

Provision is made at 18 and 19 for the connection of draw-oil pipes below and above the valve'and at 20 for a gauge pipe connection.

As shown in Fig. 2, the pins 8 and 11 on which the valves 6 and 12 are pivoted are pocketed in the casing 2, and the apertures through which they are introduced are each closable by a plug, and the end of each pin has a tapped hole by which the pins may be withdrawn by a handle rod having a threaded end. i

It will be noticed that the projecting end 9 of the valve pivot connection is normally free of contact with the tail end of the lever 10, so that fluctuation in the pressure of the water main to which the casing is connected at 3, while it may li t the valve 6 slightly off its seat, will not in that slight movementoperate to open the valve 12, but if water is withdrawn from the sprinkler system which is connected at 4, the valve 6 will be thrown open and the eccentric projection 9 will engage the tail end of the lever 10 and will lift the valve 12 off its seat that the water under pressure will flow through the nipple 13 to operate the water motor and ring the alarm gong.

. This freedom from engagement of 9 with 12 also allows the valve 6 to gain a certain momentum which will overcome the resistance in. opening the valve 12 and will carry the valve 6 up to the full open position.

It will be noted also that the projecting end 9 is so formed in relation to the end of 10 that the first lifting engagement of 9 with 10 will be applied at such distance from the pin 11 as will aifo-rd a good lifting pressure to open the valve 12.

The valve 6 thus forms a positive means for actuating an alarm when there is a current of water from the water service to the sprinkler system, such as will open the valve 6, but any fluctuation of pressure in the water service pipe though it may lift the valve 6 off its seat, will not lift it so far as to open the valve 12 and sound an alarm.

These false alarms are a frequent source of trouble in existing alarm devlcesof this class where thel alarm is actuated by movement ofthe valve off its seat.

; alarm serviceconnection between the water.

service connection and the sprinkler pipe connection, a valve closing'the alarm service connect-1011, means ,tpermitting open ingot the water service valve to a certain extent Without opening the alarm service valve, and means whereby opening of the water service valve beyond tliatlimit will open the alarm service valve."v f i 2- An ala'rmvalve for a sprinkler system comprising in combination, a hollow casing adapted for connection toia water service and in the same alignment to" the pipe of a sprinkler system, a valvewithin the. chamber seating outward against the water service 'connectioman alarm service connection from within the chamber adj acent the water serviceconnection, valve closing the alarm service connection, and means for "opening. the valve of the alarm service connection by means ofthevalve ot' the water service connection when the last-named valve has moved a certain predetermined amount off its seat. An alarm valve for a sprinkler system, comprising in combination, a-hollo-w casing having a flangedconnection to a water service and in direct alignment therewith a flanged connection to the pipe of a sprinkler system, a valve'seating from Within the easing onthe water service connection, a relatively smaller alarm service connection from within the casing above and adjacent the vvater service connection, a lever pivotally connected Within the casing intermediate the water service and alarm service connection, said lever having at one end a valve closing the alarm service'connection and at the other end a projection designed to be engaged by the water service valve on movementof it off its seat beyond a certain predetermined amount.

4:. An alarm valve'ffor a sprinkler system, comprisingin combination, a hollow casing having a flanged connection to a water service and in direct alignment therewith a. flanged connection'to the pipe ofa sprinkler system, a valve seating from within the 021s; ingon the Water service connection, said valve being pivotally connected to the easing, a relatively smaller alarm service connection "from within the'casing above and adjacent the-water service connection, a lever pivotally connected Within the casing intermediate the Water service and alarm service connection, said lever having at one 'enda valve closing the alarm service connection and at .theo-ther end Prqectron designed to be engaged by the pin-connected portion of the water service valve alter that valve hasbeen opened a limited amount.

5'. An alarmvalve for a sprinkler system,

comprising in combination, a hollow casinghaving a flangedconnection to a water service and in direct alignment therewith a flanged connection to thepipe, of a sprinkler system, a valve seating from within the casing on the water-service connection, a relativelysmaller alarm service connection from within the casing, above, and adjacent the ater service connection, a leverpivotally connected within the casing intermediate the water service and alarm service connection, said lever having at one enda valve closing the alarm service connection and at the other end a Projectiondesigned to be savaged by the water service valve on movedetermined amount, and a gauze screen protecting the alarm valve seat.

li testlinony whereof I affix my signature.

cancer s. HARRIS.

ment of it on? its seat beyond a certain pr'e- 

